Voice coil motor

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a voice coil motor, the motor including a mover having a bobbin equipped with a lens and a coil block secured to an outer circumference of the bobbin; a stator having a magnet that is disposed in such a way as to face the coil block; elastic members coupled to a lower end of the bobbin and connected to both ends of the coil block; a base supporting the elastic members and the stator; and a cover can covering the mover, the stator and the base, with an opening being formed in the cover can to expose the lens therethrough, wherein each of the elastic members includes a terminal portion that extends between the cover can and a side surface of the base, the terminal portion including a short-circuit prevention portion so as to inhibit a short-circuit between the terminal portion and the cover can.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/184,866, filed Jul. 18, 2011, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0069652, filed Jul.19, 2010, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a voice coil motor.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, a variety of optical devices, such as a mobile phone equippedwith a micro digital camera, have been developed.

As for the micro digital camera applied to the conventional mobilephone, it is impossible to adjust an interval between a lens used toconcentrate external light and an image sensor used to convert theexternal light into an image. However, recently, the interval betweenthe image sensor and the lens can be adjusted by a lens driving devicesuch as a voice coil motor, so that the mobile phone can obtain a moreimproved image.

A conventional voice coil motor includes a mover, a stator, an elasticmember, and a cover can. The mover includes a coil block that produces amagnetic field to drive a lens up and down. The stator faces the mover,and produces a magnetic field to drive the mover. The elastic memberelastically supports the mover that moves up and down. The cover cancovers the mover, the stator and the elastic member.

Meanwhile, in order to produce the magnetic field from the coil block,the coil block is electrically connected to the elastic member, and theelastic member is electrically connected to an external circuit board.

In recent years, in order to block harmful electromagnetic wavesproduced from the voice coil motor, the cover can covers surfaces of thevoice coil motor other than a floor surface thereof. Such a constructioncauses a portion of the elastic member for connecting the elastic memberto the external circuit hoard and the cover can to be short-circuited,so that the malfunction of the voice coil motor frequently occurs.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention provides a voice coil motor, which isintended to inhibit a cover can for blocking harmful electromagneticwaves and a portion of an elastic member supplying power to a coil blockfrom being electrically short-circuited, thus inhibiting the malfunctionof the voice coil motor.

In one general aspect of the present invention, there is provided avoice coil motor, the motor comprising: a mover including a bobbinequipped with a lens and a coil block secured to an outer circumferenceof the bobbin; a stator including a magnet that is disposed in such away as to face the coil block; elastic members coupled to a lower end ofthe bobbin and connected to both ends of the coil block; a basesupporting the elastic members and the stator; and a cover can coveringthe mover, the stator and the base, with an opening being formed in thecover can to expose the lens therethrough, wherein each of the elasticmembers comprises a terminal portion that extends between the cover canand a side surface of the base, the terminal portion including ashort-circuit prevention portion so as to inhibit a short-circuitbetween the terminal portion and the cover can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a voice coil motor inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the voicecoil motor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing portion ‘A’ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional perspective view showing a short-circuitprevention portion of a voice coil motor in accordance with anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view showing a short-circuitprevention portion of a voice coil motor in accordance with a furtherexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional perspective view showing a short-circuitprevention portion of a voice coil motor in accordance with anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional perspective view showing a short-circuitprevention portion and a guide portion of a voice coil motor inaccordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the guide portion and theshort-circuit prevention portion of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Forclarity and convenience of description, the size or shape of componentsshown in the drawings may not be illustrated to scale. Further,terminologies defined in consideration of the construction and effect ofthe present invention may be changed according to a user or operatorintention or the custom. These terminologies should be interpreted ashaving meanings and concepts in keeping with the technical spirit of thepresent invention based on the overall detailed description.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a voice coil motor inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the voice coilmotor of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I′ ofFIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing portion ‘A’ of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a voice coil motor 800 includes a mover 100,an elastic member 200, a stator 300, a casing 400, a base 600 and acover can 700.

The mover 100 includes a bobbin 150 and a coil block 190.

The bobbin 150 is formed, for example, to have the shape of a cylinderthat has a hole for receiving a lens therein. The cylindrical bobbin 150includes an upper surface 120 and a lower surface 130 that is oppositeto the upper surface 120.

An internal threaded portion 112 is formed on an inner circumference ofthe bobbin 150 to receive the lens, and a lens holding member (notshown) is fastened to the internal threaded portion 112. The lens iscoupled to the lens holding member. Unlike this construction, the lensmay be directly fastened to the internal threaded portion 112 of thebobbin 150.

A step 115 is provided on a lower portion of an outer circumference ofthe bobbin 150 to support the coil block 190 that will be describedbelow in detail.

Projection-shaped bosses are provided on the lower surface 130 of thebobbin 150, so that first elastic members 210 of the elastic member 200,which will be described below in detail, are coupled to the bobbin 150using the bosses.

The coil block 190 of the mover 100 is placed on the step 115 which isformed on the bobbin 150. The coil block 190 is formed, for example, bywinding a coil into a cylindrical shape.

The coil block 190 is directly wound around the outer circumference ofthe bobbin 150. Alternatively, after the coil is wound in a cylindricalshape, this may be attached to the outer circumference of the bobbin 150by an adhesive or the like.

The elastic member 200 includes the first elastic members 210 and asecond elastic member 220. In the embodiment of the present invention,the first and second elastic members 210 and 220 may comprise platesprings.

The first elastic members 210 are coupled to the lower surface 130 ofthe bobbin 150. For example, the first elastic members 210 may comprisetwo elastic members. The first elastic members 210 are coupled,respectively, to the bosses of the lower surface 130 of the bobbin 150.

Each of the two first elastic members 210 includes an inner portion 211,an outer portion 212 and a coupling portion 213.

The inner portion 211 is coupled to the corresponding boss that isprovided on the lower surface 130 of the bobbin 150, the outer portion212 is secured between the base 600 that will be described below indetail and a lower casing 420 of the casing 400, and the couplingportion 213 couples the inner portion 211 with the outer portion 212.

The second elastic member 220 is coupled to the upper surface 120 of thebobbin 150.

The stator 300 includes a yoke 310 and magnets 350.

The yoke 310 includes a top plate 312, side plates 314 and a yokeportion 316.

When viewed on a plane, the top plate 312 of the yoke 310 may be formedto have the shape of a rectangular plate, with a circular opening beingformed in a central portion of the top plate 312 to expose an upper endof the bobbin 150.

The side plates 314 extend from four edges of the top plate 312 in sucha way as to be parallel to the outer circumference of the bobbin 150.The side plates 314 are formed integrally with the four edges of the topplate 312.

The yoke portion 316 protrudes from an inner surface of the top plate312, which is defined by the circular opening of the top plate 312,toward the lower end of the bobbin 150. The yoke portion 316 is locatedat a position in such a way as to be inserted into a space definedbetween the bobbin 150 and the coil block 190.

The magnets 350 are disposed in space defined by the top plate 312 andthe side plates 314 of the yoke 310. The respective magnets 350 areplaced in such a way as to face the coil block 190.

Force generated by interaction between a magnetic field produced fromthe magnets 350 and a magnetic field produced from the coil block 190may move the bobbin 150 up. The bobbin 150 is elastically supported bythe first and second elastic members 210 and 220. Here, by preciselyadjusting current applied to the coil block 190, a moving distance ofthe bobbin 150 can be precisely adjusted.

The casing 400 includes an upper casing (or upper spacer) 410 and alower casing (or lower spacer) 420.

The upper casing 410 includes a top plate 411 and coupling pillars 412.The upper casing 410 is placed on an upper portion of the yoke 310, andthe second elastic member 220 of the elastic member 200 is interposedbetween the upper casing 410 and the yoke 310.

When viewed on a plane, the top plate 411 of the upper casing 410 may beformed to have the shape of a rectangular plate. An opening 414 isformed in a central portion of the top plate 411 of the upper casing 410to expose the bobbin 150 through the opening 414.

The coupling pillars 412 of the upper casing 410 protrude from fourcorners of the top plate 411 in such a way as to be parallel to thebobbin 150. The coupling pillars 412 are coupled to the lower casing 420that will be described below in detail.

The lower casing 420 includes pillars 425 that are coupled,respectively, with the coupling pillars 412 of the upper casing 410.

The base 600 functions to support the first elastic member 210 of theelastic member 200 that elastically supports the stator 300 and themover 100. Further, an IR filter and/or an image sensor unit (not shown)may be mounted on the base 600.

The base 600 may be shaped, for example, like a plate of a rectangularparallelepiped, and an opening 601 is formed in a central portion of thebase 600 in such a way as to correspond to the lens mounted to thebobbin 150.

The base 600 shaped like the rectangular parallelepiped plate includesan upper surface 603 and side surfaces 605 connected to the uppersurface 603. Among the side surfaces 605 of the base 600, facing sidesurfaces have hooks 607.

Further, one pair of receiving recesses 610 is formed concavely in aside surface 605 of the base 600 on which no hook 607 is formed. Eachreceiving recess 610 is formed at a position corresponding to ashort-circuit prevention portion that is provided on each first elasticmember 210 of the elastic member 200, which will be described later.

In an embodiment of the present invention, each receiving recess 610 maybe formed in the side surface 605 of the base 600 such that a depth ofthe recess 610 is gradually increased or variable in a direction fromthe upper surface of the base 600 to a lower surface that is opposite tothe upper surface. Unlike this, the receiving recess 610 may be formedsuch that its depth is constant. A short-circuit prevention portion 215that will be described below in detail is in close contact with a floorsurface 610 a formed by the receiving recess 610.

Meanwhile, a ground terminal may be provided on the upper surface 603 ofthe base 600 to ground the cover can 700 that will be described below indetail.

The cover can 700 is shaped like a hexahedral box that is open at alower surface, and an opening is formed in a top plate 701 of the covercan 700 to expose the lens mounted to the bobbin 150 through theopening.

Side plates 703 are formed integrally on edges of the top plate 701 ofthe cover can 700, and hook insertion holes 705 are formed in the sideplates 703 in such a way as to correspond to the hooks 607 of the base600, so that the hooks 607 are inserted into the hook insertion holes705. For example, the cover can 700 converts harmful electromagneticwaves produced from an inside of the voice coil motor 800 into heat orcurrent, thus inhibiting the harmful electromagnetic waves from beingemitted to the outside of the voice coil motor 800. To this end, thecover can 700 is manufactured, for example, using a metal plate that issuitable for blocking electromagnetic waves.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first elastic members 210 of the elasticmember 200 are disposed on the base 600, and a terminal portion 214 a isprovided on the outer portion 212 of each first elastic member 210.

The terminal portion 214 a includes a connection portion 214 and theshort-circuit prevention portion 215. The connection portion 214 and theshort-circuit prevention portion 215 of the terminal portion 214 aprovided on the first elastic member 210 apply a driving signal from anexternal board to the coil block 190 provided on the outer circumferenceof the bobbin 150. In an embodiment of the present invention, theshort-circuit prevention portion 215 may protrude downwards from thebase 600.

The connection portion 214 extends from an edge of the outer portion212. The connection portion 214 is interposed between the upper surface603 of the base 600 and the lower casing 420.

The short-circuit prevention portion 215 may include a firstshort-circuit prevention portion 216, a second short-circuit preventionportion 217, and a third short-circuit prevention portion 218.

The first short-circuit prevention portion 216 extends from theconnection portion 214. The first short-circuit prevention portion 216extends between the receiving recess 610 formed in the side surface ofthe base 600 and an inner surface of the side plate 703 of the cover can700. The first short-circuit prevention portion 216 is formed, forexample, to be perpendicular to the connection portion 214.

The second short-circuit prevention portion 217 extends from the firstshort-circuit prevention portion 216. The second short-circuitprevention portion 217 is bent from the first short-circuit preventionportion 216, and forms an obtuse angle θ1 with the first short-circuitprevention portion 216.

The third short-circuit prevention portion 218 extends from the secondshort-circuit prevention portion 217, and is bent from the secondshort-circuit prevention portion 217 in such a way as to be parallel tothe side plate 703 of the cover can 700. Thus, the second short-circuitprevention portion 217 and the third short-circuit prevention portion218 form an obtuse angle θ2 therebetween.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the receiving recess 610formed in the base 600 to receive the short-circuit prevention portion215 has shape corresponding to that of the first to third short-circuitprevention portions 216, 217 and 218. Thus, the first to thirdshort-circuit prevention portions 216, 217 and 218 come into closecontact with the floor surface 610 a defined by the receiving recess 610formed in the side surface 605 of the base 600.

Further, an adhesive may be interposed between the floor surface 610 adefined by the receiving recess 610 and the first to third short-circuitprevention portions 216, 217 and 218 so as to inhibit the first to thirdshort-circuit prevention portions 216, 217, and 218 from making contactwith the cover can 700.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the receivingrecess 610 is formed in the base 600, and at least a portion of theshort-circuit prevention portion 215 extending from each first elasticmember 210 placed on the base 600 is inclined from the inner surface ofthe side plate 703 of the cover can 700, thus inhibiting the cover can700 and the first elastic member 210 from being electricallyshort-circuited.

FIG. 5 is a sectional perspective view showing a short-circuitprevention portion of a voice coil motor in accordance with anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention. The general constructionof the voice coil motor shown in FIG. 5 remains the same as the voicecoil motor shown in and described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, exceptform an insulation member. Therefore, the duplicated description of thesame construction will be omitted, and the same component will carry thesame reference numeral.

Referring to FIG. 5, even though the receiving recess 610 is formed inthe base 600 and the short-circuit prevention portion 215 electricallyconnected to the first elastic member 210 is provided in the receivingrecess 610, if external strong shock or vibration is applied to thevoice coil motor, the short-circuit prevention portion 215 movesslightly, so that the inner surface of the side plate 703 of the covercan 700 and the short-circuit prevention portion 215 may come intocontact with each other and thereby may be short-circuited. In anembodiment of the present invention, an insulation layer 707 may becoated on the inner surface of the side plate 703 facing theshort-circuit prevention portion 215 so as to inhibit the side plate 703of the cover can 700 and the short-circuit prevention portion 215 frombeing short-circuited.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the insulation layer 707 maybe formed throughout the overall area of the inner surface of the sideplate 703 of the cover can 700 or formed locally on the inner surface ofthe side plate 703 corresponding to the short-circuit prevention portion215.

FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view showing a short-circuitprevention portion of a voice coil motor in accordance with a furtherexemplary embodiment of the present invention. The general constructionof the voice coil motor shown in FIG. 6 remains the same as the voicecoil motor shown in and described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, exceptform an insulation member. Therefore, the duplicated description of thesame construction will be omitted, and the same component will carry thesame reference numeral.

Referring to FIG. 6, even though the receiving recess 610 is formed inthe base 600 and the short-circuit prevention portion 215 electricallyconnected to the first elastic member 210 is provided in the receivingrecess 610, if external strong shock or vibration is applied to thevoice coil motor, the short-circuit prevention portion 215 movesslightly, so that the inner surface of the side plate 703 of the covercan 700 and the short-circuit prevention portion 215 may come intocontact with each other and thereby may be short-circuited. In anembodiment of the present invention, an insulation layer 707 may becoated on a surface of the short-circuit prevention portion 215 facingthe inner surface of the side plate 703 so as to inhibit the side plate703 of the cover can 700 and the short-circuit prevention portion 215from being short-circuited.

The insulation layer 219 may be formed throughout the overall area ofthe surface of the short-circuit prevention portion 215.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the insulationlayer is formed on either of the inner surface of the cover can 700 orthe short-circuit prevention portion 215. However, without being limitedto the embodiment, a first insulation member may be provided on theshort-circuit prevention portion 215 facing the cover can 700, and asecond insulation member may be provided on the inner surface of thecover can 700 facing the short-circuit prevention portion 215.

FIG. 7 is a sectional perspective view showing a short-circuitprevention portion of a voice coil motor in accordance with anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention. The general constructionof the voice coil motor shown in FIG. 7 remains the same as the voicecoil motor shown in and described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, exceptform a short-circuit prevention portion. Therefore, the duplicateddescription of the same construction will be omitted, and the samecomponent will carry the same reference numeral.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the short-circuit prevention portion 215,connected to the connection portion 214 extending from the outer portion212 of the first elastic member 210, is shaped like a linear plate. Theshort-circuit prevention portion 215 shaped like the linear plate formsan acute angle θ with the inner surface of the side plate 703 of thecover can 700.

Further, among surfaces formed by the receiving recess 610 of the base600 corresponding to the short-circuit prevention portion 215 which isnot bent, the surface corresponding to the short-circuit preventionportion 215 is formed as a reverse inclined surface in such a way as tobe in close contact with the short-circuit prevention portion 215.

FIG. 8 is a sectional perspective view showing a short-circuitprevention portion and a guide portion of a voice coil motor inaccordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the guide portion and theshort-circuit prevention portion of FIG. 8. The general construction ofthe voice coil motor shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 remains the same as thevoice coil motor shown in and described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4,except form the guide portion. Therefore, the duplicated description ofthe same construction will be omitted, and the same component will carrythe same reference numeral.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the short-circuit prevention portion 215 isbent from the connection portion 214 electrically connected to the firstelastic member 210. For example, the short-circuit prevention portion215 is formed to be perpendicular to the connection portion 214.

Meanwhile, guide ribs 609 a are provided, respectively, on opposite sidewalls 609 that are defined by the receiving recess 610 formed in theside surface 605 of the base 600. Each guide rib 609 a guides theshort-circuit prevention portion 215, which is disposed to beperpendicular to the connection portion 214, to allow the short-circuitprevention portion 215 to be inclined relative to the inner surface ofthe side plate 703 of the cover can 700 without an additional bendingprocess.

To this end, each guide rib 609 a includes an inclined surface 609 b,and the inclined surface 609 a is formed as a reverse inclined surfacerelative to the side surface 605 of the base 600, and the side surface605 of the base 600 and the inclined surface 609 b are, for example,formed at an acute angle.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the short-circuit preventionportion 215 is bent to be spaced apart from the side plate 703 of thecover can 700 using the guide rib 609 a during assembly, thus preventingthe first elastic member 210 and the cover can 700 from beingelectrically short-circuited.

Meanwhile, unlike the above-mentioned embodiment of the presentinvention, in order to inhibit the short-circuit prevention portion 215and the cover can 700 from being short-circuited, a portion of the covercan 700 corresponding to the short-circuit prevention portion 215 may becut and then an insulation plate may be provided in the cut portion ofthe cover can 700.

Further, unlike the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention,in order to inhibit the short-circuit prevention portion 215 and thecover can 700 from being short-circuited, the inner surface of the covercan 700 corresponding to the short-circuit prevention portion 215 mayprotrude outwards. Such a construction can also inhibit the cover can700 and the short-circuit prevention portion 215 from beingshort-circuited.

As described above, the present invention provides a voice coil motor,in which a cover can cover surfaces of the voice coil motor other than afloor surface thereof so as to block harmful electromagnetic waves, andan elastic member is provided with a short-circuit prevention portion soas to inhibit the cover can and the elastic member placed on a base frombeing in electric contact with each other, so that operationcharacteristics of the voice coil motor can be more improved.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A voice coil motor (VCM), comprising: a bobbinconfigured to move in a vertical direction; a coil fixed to an outercircumference of the bobbin; a magnet facing the coil; two lower elasticmembers coupled to a lower portion of the bobbin and electricallyconnected to the coil and comprising a first lower elastic member and asecond lower elastic member; a base arranged under the two lower elasticmembers; and a cover of metal material, the cover having a lateral plateand an upper plate formed with a first opening; wherein the first lowerelastic member connects to a first terminal portion and the second lowerelastic member connects to a second terminal portion, wherein the coveris disposed on the base and is overlapped with a portion of the firstand second terminal portions in a horizontal direction, wherein twogrooves are concavely formed at an outer lateral surface of the base,wherein the two grooves comprise a first groove and a second groove,wherein the first and second terminal portions are bonded to the firstand second grooves, respectively, wherein each of the first and secondterminal portions is horizontally distanced from an inner surface of thelateral plate of the cover, and wherein an insulation member is disposedbetween the lateral plate of the cover and a portion of at least one ofthe first and second terminal portions.
 2. The VCM of claim 1, whereineach terminal portion is arranged in a horizontal direction distancingfrom the cover, as the terminal portion advances from an upper surfaceof the base to a lower surface of the base.
 3. The VCM of claim 1,wherein an angle formed between each terminal portion and the lateralplate of the cover is an acute angle.
 4. The VCM of claim 1, wherein adepth of the two grooves grows deeper from an upper surface of the baseto a lower surface of the base.
 5. The VCM of claim 1, wherein the firstand second terminal portions are fixed to the first and second grooves,respectively, by an adhesive.
 6. The VCM of claim 1, wherein the firstlower elastic member includes a first inner elastic member coupled to alower portion of the bobbin, a first outer elastic member fixed to thebase, and a first connection elastic member electrically connecting thefirst inner elastic member and the first outer elastic member, andwherein the second lower elastic member includes a second inner elasticmember coupled to the lower portion of the bobbin, a second outerelastic member fixed to the base, and a second connection elastic memberelectrically connecting the second inner elastic member and the secondouter elastic member.
 7. The VCM of claim 1, wherein the insulationmember is overlapped with the cover and the first terminal portion in ahorizontal direction, and wherein the insulation member is overlappedwith the cover and the second terminal portion in the horizontaldirection.
 8. The VCM of claim 7, wherein the insulation member isdisposed on any one of the inner surface of the lateral plate of thecover and a portion of at least one of the first and second terminalportions facing the inner surface of the lateral plate of the cover. 9.The VCM of claim 1, wherein a depth of the two grooves is the same froman upper surface of the base to a lower surface of the base.
 10. The VCMof claim 1, wherein the insulation member includes a first insulationmember and a second insulation member, and the first insulation memberis disposed on a portion of at least one of the first and secondterminal portions facing the inner surface of the lateral plate of thecover, and wherein the second insulation member is disposed on the innersurface of the lateral plate of the cover facing the first and secondterminal portions.
 11. The VCM of claim 10, wherein a material of thefirst insulation member is the same as a material of the secondinsulation member.
 12. The VCM of claim 1, further comprising a groundterminal disposed at the base and configured to electrically connect thecover and a ground portion.
 13. The VCM of claim 1, further comprising ayoke, wherein the yoke includes a yoke upper plate formed with a secondopening, a yoke lateral plate extended from an edge of the yoke upperplate, and a yoke portion arranged between the bobbin and the coil,wherein the yoke portion is extended in a direction from an innersurface of the yoke upper plate to the bobbin.
 14. The VCM of claim 1,further comprising an upper elastic member coupled to an upper portionof the bobbin and supporting the bobbin, wherein the upper elasticmember is disposed inside the cover.
 15. The VCM of claim 14, furthercomprising a case inside the cover, wherein the upper elastic member isdisposed under the case.
 16. The VCM of claim 1, wherein the magnet isarranged at a corner of the cover.
 17. The VCM of claim 1, wherein eachof the first and second terminal portions includes a short-circuitprevention portion, wherein the short-circuit prevention portionincludes first, second, and third short-circuit prevention units, and atleast one part of the short-circuit prevention portion is slantedlyarranged from an inner surface of the lateral plate of the cover. 18.The VCM of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of the first andsecond terminal portions is slantedly arranged from an inner surface ofthe lateral plate of the cover.
 19. A camera, comprising: the VCM ofclaim 1; a lens coupled to the bobbin; a filter; and an image sensor.20. An optical device comprising the camera according to claim
 19. 21.The VCM of claim 1, wherein the bobbin is configured to move in avertical direction.
 22. The VCM of claim 1, wherein the first and secondterminal portions are not protruded beyond the outer lateral surface ofthe base.
 23. The VCM of claim 1, wherein a distal end of each of thefirst and second terminal portions are not protruded beyond a bottomsurface of the base.
 24. The VCM of claim 1, wherein the cover isconfigured to be electrically connected to a ground portion.
 25. The VCMof claim 1, wherein a depth of the first groove at an upper surface ofthe base is different from that at a lower surface of the base, andwherein a depth of the second groove at the upper surface of the base isdifferent from that at the lower surface of the base.
 26. The VCM ofclaim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the base extends below a distal endof each of the first and second terminal portions.
 27. The VCM of claim1, wherein a portion of the cover is overlapped with at least a portionof the first and second terminal portions in a horizontal direction. 28.The VCM of claim 1, wherein a distal end of each of the first and secondterminal portions is disposed along the outer lateral surface of thebase.
 29. The VCM of claim 1, wherein each of the first and secondterminal portions includes a first side surface, a second side surfaceopposite to the first side surface, a third side surface, and a fourthside surface opposite to the third side surface; and the first sidesurface faces an inner surface of the lateral plate of the cover, andthe second, third, and fourth side surfaces face the base.
 30. The VCMof claim 29, wherein the insulation member is disposed between the firstside surface of each of the first and second terminal portions and theinner surface of the lateral plate of the cover.
 31. The VCM of claim30, wherein each of the first and second grooves includes fifth, sixth,and seventh side surfaces; and the fifth side surface faces the secondside surface, the sixth side surface faces the third side surface, andthe seventh side surface faces the fourth side surface of the respectiveterminal portion.
 32. The VCM of claim 1, wherein the first terminalportion is formed integrally with the first lower elastic member and thesecond terminal portion is formed integrally with the second lowerelastic member.
 33. The VCM of claim 1, wherein a portion of the firstterminal and a portion of the second terminal are overlapped with thecover, and wherein another portion of the first terminal and anotherportion of the second terminal are exposed outside the cover.
 34. Avoice coil motor (VCM), comprising: a bobbin; a coil fixed to an outercircumference of the bobbin; a magnet facing the coil; two lower elasticmembers coupled to a lower portion of the bobbin and electricallyconnected to the coil and comprising a first lower elastic member and asecond lower elastic member; a base arranged under the two lower elasticmembers; a cover of metal material, the cover having an upper plateformed with an opening and a lateral plate; a terminal portion includinga first terminal portion and a second terminal portion, and configuredto be electrically connected to an external circuit board; and aninsulation member disposed between the lateral plate of the cover and aportion of at least one of the first and second terminal portions;wherein the two lower elastic members are insulated from the cover,wherein the cover is coupled to the base and is overlapped with aportion of the first and second terminal portions in a horizontaldirection, wherein two grooves are concavely formed at an outer lateralsurface of the base, wherein the two grooves comprise a first groove anda second groove, and wherein the first and second terminal portions arefixed to the first and second grooves, respectively.
 35. The VCM ofclaim 34, wherein each of the first and second terminal portions ishorizontally distanced from an inner surface of the lateral plate of thecover.
 36. The VCM of claim 34, wherein the insulation member isdisposed between a portion of at least one of the first and secondterminal portions and the lateral plate facing the portion of the atleast one of the first and second terminal portions.
 37. The VCM ofclaim 34, wherein each of the first and second terminal portionsincludes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, andwherein the first end of the first terminal portion connects to theexternal circuit board and the second end of the first terminal portionconnects to the first lower elastic member, and the first end of thesecond terminal portion connects to the external circuit board and thesecond end of the second terminal portion connects to the second lowerelastic member.
 38. The VCM of claim 37, wherein a first distancebetween the first end of the first terminal portion and the second endof the first terminal portion is the same as a second distance betweenthe first end of the second terminal portion and the second end of thesecond terminal portion.
 39. The VCM of claim 38, wherein the insulationmember is overlapped with the cover and the first terminal portion in ahorizontal direction, and wherein the insulation member is overlappedwith the cover and the second terminal portion in the horizontaldirection.
 40. A camera comprising: the VCM of claim 38; a lens coupledto the bobbin; an IR filter arranged under the lens; and an image sensordisposed on the external circuit board.
 41. An optical device comprisingthe camera according to claim
 40. 42. The VCM of claim 34, wherein thefirst and second terminal portions are arranged within a boundary of thecover when viewed from the top, such that the first and second terminalsare within the boundary of the cover in a horizontal direction.
 43. TheVCM of claim 34, wherein the first terminal portion is formed integrallywith the first lower elastic member and the second terminal portion isformed integrally with the second lower elastic member.
 44. The VCM ofclaim 34, wherein the horizontal direction is perpendicular to thebobbin's moving direction.
 45. The VCM of claim 34, wherein a depth ofthe first groove at an upper surface of the base is different from thatat a lower surface of the base, and wherein a depth of the second grooveat the upper surface of the base is different from that at the lowersurface of the base.
 46. The VCM of claim 34, further comprising anupper elastic member coupled to an upper portion of the bobbin andsupporting the bobbin, wherein the upper elastic member is disposedinside the cover.
 47. The VCM of claim 46, further comprising a caseinside the cover, wherein the upper elastic member is disposed under thecase.
 48. The VCM of claim 34, wherein the magnet is arranged at acorner of the cover.
 49. The VCM of claim 34, wherein the first andsecond terminal portions are not protruded beyond the outer lateralsurface of the base.
 50. The VCM of claim 34, wherein a distal end ofeach of the first and second terminal portions is not protruded beyond abottom surface of the base.
 51. The VCM of claim 34, wherein the coveris configured to be electrically connected to a ground portion.
 52. TheVCM of claim 34, wherein a distal end of each of the first and secondterminal portions is disposed along the outer lateral surface of thebase.
 53. The VCM of claim 34, wherein each of the first and secondterminal portions includes a first side surface, a second side surfaceopposite to the first side surface, a third side surface, and a fourthside surface opposite to the third side surface; and the first sidesurface faces an inner surface of the lateral plate of the cover, andthe second, third, and fourth side surfaces face the base.
 54. The VCMof claim 53, wherein the insulation member is disposed between the firstside surface of each of the first and second terminal portions and theinner surface of the lateral plate of the cover.
 55. The VCM of claim54, wherein each of the first and second grooves includes fifth, sixth,and seventh side surfaces; and the fifth side surface faces the secondside surface, the sixth side surface faces the third side surface, andthe seventh side surface faces the fourth side surface of the respectiveterminal portion.